Controlling Flow Rate with Scales

When formulating chemicals and other liquids, sometimes it’s necessary for the various liquids to be mixed at an extremely precise ratio. In order to make this process more efficient and productive, it’s important to determine how to control the flow rate of these chemical ingredients so that an automated production line can be used to eliminate any human error. By using your scale to analyze and define your flow rate, you will be able to create consistent products, whatever they may be.

Arlyn Scales has been a leader in the weighing industry for the past thirty years. We have maintained our leadership by creating scales that have cutting edge technology built into extremely rugged and durable scales. We keep informed about all our customers industry trends so we may better understand their needs and expectations and design scales that speak directly to them. Manufacturing takes place in our factory in Long Island, New York where our offices are located. By having both our factory and business in the same location, we are able to ship factory direct to our customers. This allows our customers to save a phenomenal amount of money that would normally go to distributors and various other middlemen. Money that we save from this arrangement goes right into creating better scales at lower prices. We believe our competitors can’t match our scales, no matter what the price may be.

Calculating Flow Rate

In order for a user to calculate the flow rate to fill or empty a tank, drum or cylinder, either a container containing the liquid to be emptied or a container that will be filled with liquid must be placed on the scale platform. The Arlyn Scale digital indicator offers a flow rate option on all scales. The user can enter the weight of a unit of volume and simply activate the flow rate option. Then either begin to fill or empty liquid from the container. Once the filling or emptying process is complete, the scale will be able to calculate the flow rate. The slower the fill rate, the longer the flow rate calculation will take. Once the flow rate had been calculated, the data can be entered or sent to a computer to automate machinery and valves to control the flow rate.

Using the Setpoint Controller to Control Flow Rate

Mechanical failure is a part of life, but the best thing to do is catch it quickly so readjusting does not cost unnecessary time and money. Our scale indicators that use the flow rate feature can also use the setpoint controller to program alarm levels for the flow rate. The setpoint controller can have up to eight values entered into it. Once a value has been reached, the controller can send an electronic signal or alarm notifying the user that the flow rate is not correct. This will allow users to correct any problems such as blockage in hoses or valves.

Precise Flow Rates Using SAW (Surface Acoustic Wave) Technology

You can have a more precise flow rate if you use Arlyn Scales with SAW load cells. Until we incorporated SAW technology into our Ultra Precision scales, the most cost efficient and reliable load cell was the strain gauge load cell. The strain gauge load cell is made using a thin strip of metal. The strain gauges are bonded with flexors to a spring element in the load cell. When a load is placed on the scale platform, the stain gauges stretch and the resistance of the load cell changes. This resistance creates a specific voltage output. The voltage output is converted by the scale indicator into an accurate weight value of the load on the scale.

The biggest problem with this load cell is that the thin metal construction is vulnerable to over loading and shock loading. Over loading takes place when a load is placed on the scale platform that is beyond the scale’s capacity. Shock loading occurs when a load is dropped from a significant height on to the scale platform. Both these conditions can render the scale inoperable. However, the more problematic issue is that the scale can begin to drift in accuracy. Initially, this may be undetected and it may take a while before a scale operator notices. This can occur more often in an automated environment where the scales performance is not closely monitored. Once this is detected, a firm may have to reweigh a number of loads, issue refunds to customers, and face loss of time and money in repairing and/or replacing the scale.

Arlyn Scales has found a way to remedy this situation. We have created the internationally patented SAW technology and load cell. Unlike the standard strain gauge load cell that measures the stress and strain of the load on the platform, the SAW load cell measures displacement. You need a considerably smaller sample of displacement than you do for stress and strain. Since the sampling size is smaller, but the accuracy is greater, the SAW load cell does not need to be constructed out of such a thin strip of metal, either. Instead we construct the SAW load cell out of a thicker metal alloy. This makes the SAW load cell much less vulnerable to shock loading and over loading while making accuracy and resolution much higher. By using a more precision oriented load cell and scale to calculate your flow rate, you’ll be able to be even more efficient with your component ingredients. By extending your inventory, you’ll be able to save money by not spending it and get more profit out of each product batch you create.

Expert Customer Support

We know we’ve taken a complicated subject and just sketched it out; however, our knowledgeable and hardworking support staff will be more than happy to answer any of your questions. Should you wish to have a more custom made scale to specifically address your individual concerns, we’re more than happy to go over our customization options with you to create the scale that is just right for you at a price you can afford. Please contact us online using the form on our Contact Us page or call us at (800) 645-4301.